Month: March 2025

The chairperson of an African charity co-founded by Prince Harry accused the royal of “harassment and bullying at scale” to try to force her out, after Harry abruptly announced his resignation last week. Sophie Chandauka is the chair of Sentebale, a charity that Harry co-founded in 2006 that was long aimed at helping children in southern Africa who have HIV/AIDS.

The Duke of Sussex resigned Tuesday as a patron of Sentebale, which he helped establish in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, citing a breakdown in the relationships between board members and Chandauka. Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho said in a joint statement that they quit “with heavy hearts” as patrons in solidarity with five trustees who resigned over an internal dispute with Chandauka, who refused to step down when asked. The stalemate reportedly involved a change in the organization’s mission. The princes said in their statement at the time: “It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation. What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about.”

However in an interview with Sky News that aired on Sunday, Chandauka cited Harry’s resignation statement as an “unleashing of the Sussex machine” against her and the organization’s employees. Chandauka described how the prince’s Netflix deal interfered with a scheduled fundraiser and how an incident with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, became a source of friction. She alleged there was misconduct at the charity, and said she had tried to blow the whistle on “abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir.”

Chandauka also said: “At some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorized the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors or my executive director. And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me, and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organizations and their family? That is an example of bullying and harassment at scale.”

Responding to Chandauka’s allegations, former Sentebale trustee Kelello Lerotholi said he was unaware of the issues she raised during his time on the board, telling Sky News: “The general tone and conduct of the board has been one of respect for each other, accommodating each other’s opinions and inputs, and speaking with respect to each other. So this all came as a shock to me when I heard.”

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An Idaho man was arrested after allegedly striking a counter-protester with his car during a protest at a Tesla dealership Saturday. About 30 people were in attendance at the anti-Tesla rally outside a dealership on Franklin Road in Meridian, which also drew a counter-protest of about 200 other people. The Meridian Police Department said in a press release that the suspect, a 70-year-old man, was charged with aggravated assault.

Christopher Talbot, 70, of Meridian, allegedly “made an obscene gesture” toward a 49-year-old man who arrived at the Idaho rally, and then struck him with his car, according to law enforcement. Officials identified the man who was struck as a counter-protester, saying he had non-life-threatening injuries and that he drove himself to a nearby hospital.  The Meridian Police said that “reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car. The victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated and released (with) non-life-threatening injuries. The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone’s right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence.”

Per NBC News, police used the license plate from Talbot’s vehicle to find his home, where he was later arrested. Talbot was booked into Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, a felony, according to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

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The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Thursday that 10,000 full-time employees will soon lose their jobs, coming on top of the nearly 10,000 who have already left the agency in the last few months through buyout offers or early retirements. The agency oversees the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, among other divisions.

Amid an executive order from President Donald Trump to downsize federal agencies, the HHS announced the plans to cut 10,000 employees, stating it will undergo a “dramatic restructuring in accordance” with the executive order issued in February that federal agencies need to reduce their workforces. Other employees may be offered early retirement or deferred resignation, which the agency said will reduce its total workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees.

HHS further stated that this personnel reduction will “save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year, and streamline the functions of the Department,” making the agency “more responsive and efficient, while ensuring that Medicare, Medicaid, and other essential health services remain intact.” The HHS also noted it will employ a new effort toward “ending America’s epidemic of chronic illness by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins.”

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement on Thursday that “we aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic.  Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants. This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That’s the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again.”

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On Thursday, President Donald Trump withdrew his nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Trump cited the slight margin that majority Republicans hold in the House of Representatives for his decision to pull Stefanik from consideration for the U.N. post, with the president saying he’s asked her to remain in Congress.

CBS News, who was first to report that Trump was considering withdrawing Stefanik’s nomination, said that the nomination was in jeopardy as GOP pressure mounted for her to back away from the position.  Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House with 218 seats, while Democrats hold 213 seats, with four vacant seats currently.

Trump wrote on Truth Social:  “As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People. Speaker Johnson is thrilled! I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise!”

The surprise development is a significant blow to Stefanik, a Trump loyalist and rising star in the party. There was little doubt Stefanik would have the votes to be confirmed, and her nomination was advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Jan. 30.

Trump announced on Nov. 11, 2024 that he selected Stefanik, 40, to represent the United States at the UN, praising her as “an incredibly strong, tough and smart America First fighter.” Stefanik, a New York Republican, was elected to Congress in 2014 and rose to House GOP leadership to be the highest-ranking Republican woman in the House.  She served as chair of the House Republican Conference from May 2021 to Jan. 2025, stepping down from the House GOP leadership post after being picked to serve in the administration..

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